Customer Reviews

Ice, Iron And Gold

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3 star:		(2)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

Ice, Iron and Gold (2007) is a collection of SF and Fantasy stories. It contains thirteen short stories -- fourteen in the limited edition -- from various anthologies. One is original to this collection.

Riding Shotgun to Armageddon (Armageddon, 1998) is a story set in the Island in Time series. It is about a war to prevent an uptimer from establishing a private kingdom.

Three Walls-32nd Campaign (Foreign Legions, 2001) is a tale about a Roman legion abducted by aliens and used to fight against other, more primitive, aliens.

Cops and Robbers (Far Frontiers IV, 1986) tells of a crosstime shopping trip that goes wrong.

Roachstompers (New Destinies, 1989) relates the trials of a future border patrol company during a severe economic downturn.

Constant Never (Dragon's Eye, 1994) is a fantasy about a Frankish knight who finds a chance to better his life by killing a dragon.

Taking Freedom (Flights of Fantasy, 1999) is another fantasy tale about a sorceress who is determined to produce the perfect servant.

Lost Legion (Bolos, 1993) recounts the problems of a US Army infantry company that has been left hanging in Central America while the homeland is having troubles. Then they receive an one hundred fifty ton combat vehicle designated as a Mark III Bolo.

Ancestral Voices (Bolos 2, 1994) continues the tale of the company and its Bolo on their way back to Reality.

The Sixth Sun (Bolos 4, 1997) concludes the storyline about the company and its Bolo. The native cult gets their hands on a massive railgun and tries to destroy the Bolo.

The Apotheosis of Martin Padway (Enchanter Completed, 2005) is a time travel story. Martin travels to the past and starts remaking the world (see Lest Darkness Fall). But other time travelers from the remade future come back to observe him.

Compadres (Alternate Generals II, 2002) rewrites the life of Theodore Roosevelt after his encounter with Pancho Villa.

The Charge of Lee's Brigade (Alternate Generals, 1998) rewrites the life of Robert E. Lee and brings him to Crimea with orders to charge the Russian guns.

Something for Yew (original publication) is a Change series tale about a shipload of yew wood and the death of a Mackenzie clansman.

The Mage, the Maiden, and the Hag (Lammas Night, 1996) is included only in the limited edition. For those that are thinking of buying that edition (or Lammas Night), the story is about a female mage and a ghost that she decides to bring back to life.

As you may have noticed from my reviews, I have been reading Stirling for over two decades. The Draka trilogy was his masterpiece and, in some respects, it may not have been surpassed by his later works. Yet he has steadily gained fame and skills over the years. Keep an eye on this one.

Highly recommended for Stirling fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of various sorts of combat with a touch of humor.

-Arthur W. Jordin

This is a collection of thirteen stories only one, a detective procedural set the "Dies the Fire" universe is new. Three are Bolo stories that form connected narrative. All are enjoyable showcasing Stirling's depth of research and background. Two are outstanding: "The Apotheosis of Martin Padway" which percisely that and contiues the story of deCamp's "Lest Darkness Fall" trumphally and "The Charge of Lee's Brigade" a rewrite of the Charge of the Light Brigade with Robert E. Lee improving the result.

Steve Stirling has now been writing science fiction and fantasy for over 20 years. In one easily accessible book, he has drawn together short stories originally written for various magazines. Fans of his may well have read most of these, over the years.

The earliest stories in this collection show that even 20 years ago, his writing abilities were formidable. Including a specialisation in military SF. There is a slight jarring note to one of these, written in 1986. The Cold War still ran then, and the story is set 10 years in the future, 1996. When the US and the Soviet Union go to a hot war. Now, that story sits in alternate history to us. Also, to its first readers, 1996 was a future. But we are as far from it in time as it was from those early readers.

Another story, about interdimensional travel, and written before the Draka books, has a female character and predilictions that are a clear precursor of the Draka female. You can see this thread running thru Stirling's works.

Didn't even know this collection of short stories was out there and was very pleased to find out it existed. I'm a big fan of Mr Stirling's works, his own and those done with others such as Jerry Pournelle.

That said overall the book was a disappointment. Many of the stories in other forms are reprints seen elsewhere and run the gamut from the lost Roman legion, some alternate history tales, and a couple of higher tech disaster stories. The several chapter short story concerning the survivors of a US infantry company in Central America after a worldwide collapse was pretty good and without what has become his almost stereotypical super woman hero as center for once. The last story in the book though made up for the other shortfalls as it was set in post Change England and was a type of political murder mystery, almost a Conan Doyle style story. That story also clues you in to more of what is happening elsewhere in the World that is lacking in the Sword of the Lady series.

Is the book worth full price? No but for a couple of bucks total, its worth the time to order. Not one of his best works by any means but it has some good spots in it.

This is a good sampling of S.M Stirling's writing. Several of the stories I've read before. The Bolo stories were the best of those. Hey, I still miss Keith Laumer. He had one story from the Island in the Sea of Time universe that I hadn't seen before that was very good. The real gem in the collection though was the story from the related Change universe. He writes in a fast pace style and knows his stuff so that the stories are believable. Worth the price.

For those of us who like the alternative history subject, this is a very good collection of them.

The book was in great condition and arrived rather quickly in time for my trip.

Stirling is always a great writer. This collection of short stories makes you want to have him expand each of them into full books. Some different and some linked. Always great character development. And of course, they are all rather violent! Has my full recomendation.

I have read most of SM Stirling's work and have to say that this covers the best I have read. The Charge of Lee's Brigade was great alternate history, and there is a lot of really interesting time travel work here too. He has two stories from other series, but it shouldn't be a problem even if you haven't read those. Stirling has a great imagination, and I found most of his premises to be really interesting.

A few critiques though: I found Lost Legion, Ancestral Voices, and The Sixth Sun to be virtually incomprehensible. I have no idea exactly where the stories take place, what sort of weapons are involved, or what is going on to motivate the characters to do what they do. It was terribly confusing. He explained very little and probably expected the dialogue to do the work, but it didn't.

Also, the story Something for Yew involved those annoying, stereotyped, and utterly ridiculous Mackenzie characters from the Change series. I found it so irritating to read about them and their religion that I didn't finish it. Stirling had some Italian merchant crossing himself and fretting with superstitious terror that there were, *gasp* followers of New Age spiritual movements in England! Oh, no, here comes the "Old Religion!" Quickly, protect me against their black magic! Seriously, I couldn't take it.

But despite this, I give the book a good review, because most of the stories were believable, fast paced and enjoyable.

an excellent compilation OF STERLING'S SHORT STORIES including 3 from three of his series.